Collapsible socket



oct. 30,1923. Y 1,472,714

l -c "H. B'RowN c-oLLAPs1BLE"s0cKET Filed Dec. l2, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l n .i I.' n

` y ,l j

v n v WITNESS/58 NVENTOH www@ TTORIVEYS @et 30 i923.

H. BROWN COLLAPSIBLE SOCKET Filed Deo. l2

WITNESS/5S mmm@ 3 sheets-sheet 2 /NVENTH C. El Bro afl?,

NORA/EVS C. H. BROWN COLLAPSIBLE SOCKET Filed Dec.v l2. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5.

WIT/VESSEL? nvm/Ton C'. 797 2510 W29,

A TTORNEYS Patented on. 3o, reza HQE..

ooLLarsIaLa socks-ir.

Application tiled December 12, 1921. Serial No. 521,730.

To all wlwm it may concern:

Be it lknown that I, CHARLES H. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Breckenridge, county of Stephens, and State of Texas, have invented certain lnew and useful Improvements in Collapsible Sockets, of which the following -is a specication.

. This invention relates to collapsible sockets especiallyadapted for luse in removing various objects from wells.

An important object of this invention is to provide a collapsible socket wherein the jaws are provided at their forward portions with enlargements or offsets capable of insertion into a narrow space between the object to be removed and the well.

A further object is to provide a collapsible socket having novel means whereby the jaws of the same may be securely engaged with the sides ofthe object to be removed lwhen the jaws have reached the limit of their forward movement.

A further object is to provide acollapsible socket which is simple to operate, of highly simplified construction and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional vlew through the improved collapsible socket, the same being shown in its inoperative osition, or the position which it normal y occu ies. p Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an end elevation, the View illustrating the forward ends of the jaws.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the clamping sleeve in its inverted position so as to cause-the jaws to grip all objects.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view 'through a modified formof theiinvention, the view illustrating the same in its inoperative position. l

Figure 7 is a similar view of the'device illustrated in Figure 6, the view illustrating the same in its operative position.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view illustrating a modified form of article engaging member.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a modified form of the invention, the same being shown in its inoperative or normal position.

Figure 10 is a perspective of a sleeve em bodied in the invention. f

Figure 11 is av horizontal sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Figure 9.

Figure 13 is an end viewof the sleeve illustrated in Figure 10. l

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive the barrel is designated by the numeral 10 and is provided at its rear end with a shank 11 having its rear terminal portion 12 thueaded for engagement with the jars employed for lowering the device into a well.

The shank 11 may be provided with flattened sides which provide a means whereby the jaws of `a wrench may be engaged with the device for turning the tool onto the lowering means or else for removing the same. As illustrated in Figure 1 the barrel 10 is provided "intermediate its ends with an. internal abutment 13 welded or otherwise secured in position and having a centrally ar ranged opening for the reception of the rod 14 ormed on the rear end of the grippin means. The rod 14 has its rear termina portion threaded vand enga ed by a nut 15 held in position by means o a cotter key 16. The barrel 10 is provided at one side'with an opening 17 which aords access to the Cotter key 16 and the nut 15 so that the gripping member may be attached or disconnected whenever desired.

A coiled spring is mounted on the rod or M plunger 14 and has one end in contact with the'abutment 13 and the other end in contact with a,` shoulder 19 formed intermed iate the ends of the movable gripping dev1ce.

' The forward portion. of the rod 'is provided with a pluraity of spring arms 21 gradually increased in cross sectional area toward their forward ends and provided on engaginga portion of' an object to be removed :from the well. `The arms 21 `which may be of spring metal and suitable their inner sides with teethv 22 adapted for stoutness are segmental in cross section and cooperate in the formation of a gradually restricted opening for the reception of a portion of the article to be removed.

When the improved socket is lowered into a well the forward ends of the spring arms are engaged with the object to be removed and the object is received within the gradu- 'ally restricted opening formed by the arms.

When the spring arms 21 reach the limit of their forward movement the barrel 10 continues its forward movement by the weight of the jars and the spring which resists this movement of the barrel is retracted whereby the rod 14 moves into the rear portion of the barrel and contacts with the rear end wall 25 of the barrel. However, when the barrel 10 be 'ns its forward movement with relation to t e spring arms it contacts with a clamping sleeve 26 slidable on the arms and when the sleeve 26 is advanced said arms are drawn together so that the object confined between the arms is tightly and securely gripped. The forward movement of the barrel 10 cannot force the sleeve 26 od the forward ends of the spring arms as the rear end of the rod 14 abuts the rear end wall 25 before the sleeve 26 could possibly be forced ed, the end of the spring arms. Also the forward portions of the spring arms areoffset. as indicated. at 27 so as to form shoulders 28 which engage the forward ed e of the sleeve 26.

It wilg be seen with reference to Figure 1 that the sleeves or binding elements 26 are arranged rearwardly of the odset portions 2'( so that the odset portions 27 may fit between the object to be gripped and the wall of the' well. As is known the space between the object to be gripped and the wall of the well is very slight and by locating` the clamping device 26 rearwardly of the offset portions 27 the thickness of each spring arm does' not have to be decreased to permit it to fit within the narrow space. it is therefore apparent that the offsets 27 not only form a means whereby the forward movement of the sleeve 26 is limited, but also permits the device to be Engaged with objects confined within the well,V which objects lie close to the side of the well. I

W'hen the device is being advanced on an object the spring 18 yieldably holds the barrel 10 in its retracted position, and when the forward end of the barrel engagesI the sleeve, the sleeve is advanced for forcing the spring arms together. The sleeve 26 has its bore gradually enlarged toward one end so that the same when inverted in the manner Meana in"Figur"es 6 and 7 the barrel is designated by the numeral4 30 and is provided intermediate its ends with an annular abutment 31 through which a rod 32 is extended. The rod 32 has its forward end enlarged as indicated at 33 and a'plurality of springarms 34 are joined with the enlarged portion 33 by welding or other suitable means. As illustrated in Fig. 6 the coiled spring 35 which is mounted on the rod-32 between the enlargement 33 and the abutment 31 urges the spring arms 34 to their advancedv positions.

The spring arms 34 diverge toward their forward ends and have their terminal portions extended inwardly as indicated at 350. A collar 36 is slidable on the spring arms 34 and is advanced on the sleeve 36 when the barrel30 is advanced. The forward movement ofthe sleeve 36 is however, limited by a plurality of shoulders 37 formed on the spring arms.

ln the use of this form of the invention the same is passed through the well casing and as soon as it passes out of the lower end of the well casing the arms spread and Contact with the wall of the well so as to be in a position to grasp the object to be removed. By the inwardly extending terminal portions 350 of the arms 34 objects that are lying flat on a hard bottom may be engaged. rlhe arms 34 scrapel thebottom of the well -each time a thrust is placed on the spring.

The arms34 may be sufficiently flexible to enable the same to conform somewhat to the shape of irregular objects or groups of objects to be removed from the well.

Figure 8 illustrates a modified form of the invention especially adapted for use in fishing for sucker rods. This view illustrates that the spring arms 40 may be provided with offset forward end portions 41 having gripping teeth 42 adapted to be engaged with a portion of the sucker rod. The offsets 41 define shoulders 44 within the opening or socket provided by the spring arms, which shoulders are adapted to be engaged with the shoulder on the sucker rod. The spring arms 40 are formed rearwardly of the socket formed by the offset with a second socket 45 of a reduced diameter. the walls of the said socket 45 being threaded for engagement with the pin of the sucker rod. it is thus seen that the device illustrated ii Figure 8 is provided with a double gripping means for the sucker rod and when the ring is advanced the walls of the several sockets will be forced into engagement with the sucker rod and the pin of the same.

Vith reference t0 Figures 9 to 13 inclusive it will be apparent that the invention idea involved may be carried out in connection with a plurality of spring arms 46 extended into a barrel 47 and having rods 49 upon which springs 50 are mounted. The

As illustrated in Fi ure 9 a sleeve 58l is mounted on the sprlng arms 46 and is` provided with -an inwardly extending end wall 59 having notches 60 to receive the spring arms 46 whereby the spring arms are prevented from moving laterally with relation to each other when being enga with an object. The sleeve 58 is provi ed at its rear end with radially arranged apertured ears 62 which slidably receive guide rods 63 secured to the forward end 65.

The invention as illustrated in Figure 9 is especially adapted for use in removing underreamer lugs, and the like, and as the several spring arms 46 are independently and separately urged to their advanced positions ariy one of the arms 46 may move rearwardly with relation to the other spring arms. This feature permits the device to more readily conform'to the shape of the object to be removed. The forward ends of the spring arms maybe formed with inwardly directed claws 68 which form a means for gripping various articles.

Further by reason of the panticular arrangement illustrarted in Figure 9 the object to be removed is subjected in a way to a raking action and is forced to the center of the well so that the further downward movement of the device permits all of the arms to be engaged with the object.

By uslng the springs to hold-the spring f arms 46 down and by usin long stroke jars the tool may be set'on t e bottom ofthe hole in cases where mud has settled and buried the underreamer lugs and by driving slightly so as not to close the arms,the

arms maybe moved through the mud' with= out closing the same.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. `A fishing tool comprising a barrel having its intermediate portion provided with an internal abutment, a rod slidable through and guided by said abutment, a plurality of spring arms secured to the forward portion of said rod and havin article gripping means, alcoiled spring con ned between said arms and said abutment, and a sleeve surrounding said spring arms in advance of vsaid barrel and adapted for closing the same. .1 n

2. A fishing tool comprisnga barrel having its intermediate portion provided withl an abutment, a rod slidable through said abutment, a plurality of spring arms secured to the forward portion of said rod and having article engaging means, a coiled spring confined between said arms and said abutment, and a sleeve surrounding said spring arms and adapted for closin the same; the bore of said sleeve being gradilally decreased toward one'end.v

3.4 A fishing tool for wells comprising a barrel having a socket provided with a rear end wall, a 4rod slidable, in said socket, said socket being `provided intermediate its ends with an abutment, a plurality of spring arms vsecured to the forward end of said rod and having means for gripping an article to be removed, and a sleeve surrounding said spring arms and slidable on the same, the forward 'end of said barrel being adapted to engage said sleeve to advance the same, the rear end of said rod being adapted to engage the rear end of said socket Awhereby the fbrward movement of said sleeve isV limited.

4. A device of the class described comprising a barrel having an abutment, a rod slidable through said'abutment, a plurality.

vof spring arms secured to the forward end of said rodv and havi their forward portions provided 'with o sets defining shoul ders andA gripping means, said grippin lmeans being adapted for engagement wit an article lodged within a. well, a sleeve slidable on said spring arms and'limited in its forward movement by said offsets, the

forward end of said barrel beingldapted to engage said sleeve to advance same.

5. A fishing tool for wells comprising a barrel. having a socket provided with a rear end wall, a rod slidable in said socket and having a plurality of article ripping arms, and a sleeve surrounding saidv arm, the bar rel being adapted to engage the sleeve to advance the same on said arms, the rear end of said wall being in the path of travel and adapted to be engaged by said rod whereby the movement o the sleeve forwardly on said arm is limited.

6. A fishing tool for wells comprising a barrel having a socket provided with a rear'` end wall, a rod slidable in said socket and 4 having a plurality of -article gripping arms, a sleeve' surrounding said arm the barrel ends of said arms and said abutment and urging the arms forwardly.

CHARLES HE RY BROWN. 

